RSPCA ACT stands out from the pack

From the Canberra Times today;

The ACT branch of the RSPCA has sought to distance itself from its NSW counterpart by showing it is euthanasing a far smaller percentage of dogs.

The latest figures show that the RSPCA in the ACT had to put down 6.5 per cent of all dogs received by it last financial year.

That compares to a euthanasia rate within the NSW branch of the RSPCA of about 40 per cent.

The figures also show a dramatic fall in the percentage of domestic kittens euthanised in the ACT – from 29 per cent to 8.4 per cent – thanks to a significantly expanded foster carers program.

RSPCA ACT spokeswoman Maarit Maher said: ”The re-homing rate of almost 91 per cent for domestic kittens is phenomenal, considering in some areas it is the standard euthanasia rate.”

As well as its high kill rates, the NSW branch has also been under fire for the so-called ”temperament” test it used to judge whether dogs should be euthanised due to behavioral problems.

(RSPCA ACT) Dogs did not fail the test for being boisterous or ill-mannered but were instead given training and then tested again.

”We will continue the cycle of training and testing until we believe the dog can be made available for adoption.”
…..
”We have a good working relationship with Domestic Animal Services and will transfer strays to them when they have room so that we can make room for dogs on our surrender wait list,” she said.

”We are one of the few RSPCA shelters that takes strays as well as surrenders – strays are usually tasked to the local council pound. DAS can only care for adult dogs, they do not have the capacity to care for puppies, so we receive dogs from DAS as well.

Both RSPCA and DAS have homing rates over 90 per cent.”